German chancellor: No free speech for ‘extreme right-wing’ views
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told attendees at the World Economic Forum’s Davos summit on Tuesday that Germany does not allow those on the “extreme Right” to express their views freely.
"We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany. Everyone can say what he wants, even if he is a billionaire. And what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme-Right positions," Scholz said while sitting next to fellow German and World Economic Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.
Observers noted that Scholz did not limit his statement to sppech in support of neo-Nazism, which is illegal in Germany, nor did he take issue with extreme Left-wing views.
The German government’s war on the Right
In practice, the Left-wing Scholz administration has been cracking down on its political opponents. In August, for example, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA) launched an investigation into a user who called Left-wing politician Ricarda Lang “fat.” While public criticism of politicians is a crime in Germany, citizens who criticize — or even assault — those on the Right are less likely to face repercussions.
Scholz’s ruling Social Democratic Party has been waging a war against Alternative for Germany (AFD), a Right-wing party that has gained enormous popularity across the country. The Scholz administration has repeatedly branded the party “extreme” and “racist” for wanting tighter immigration controls and has accused them of “neo-Nazism.” These allegations have been used to justify spying on AfD members, denying them firearm permits, and arresting party members. In 2023, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was among those who called for a ban on AfD.
Due to accusations of “racism” by the Scholz government and German media, AfD politicians have been beaten, nearly assassinated, and forced to go into hiding.
Scholz: Elon Musk’s political views are ‘unacceptable’
Billionaire Elon Musk has expressed his support for AfD, saying in December: "Only the AfD can save Germany."
At the Davos summit this week, Scholz prefaced his comments on free speech by taking aim at Musk.
“He supports the far right everywhere in Europe — in the U.K., in Germany, in many, many other countries — and that is something that is completely unacceptable,” Scholz said recently at a Berlin press conference. “It endangers the democratic development of Europe, it endangers our community and it must be criticized.”
